Cormier was originally slated to meet Rashad Evans at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino this weekend, but Evans was forced to drop out of the contest after an injury to his knee during a final training session early last week.

With Cummins, Cormier now finds himself against a new opponent with an entirely new fight-narrative waiting to play out. Evans was a former champion. Cummins is a former (one week removed) barista at a local coffee shop. Evans is an 18 fight veteran of the UFC. Cummins has just four fights in his entire career, and is making his UFC debut on just 10 days notice against one of the most devastating prospects the sport has ever seen.

However, as far as Cormier is concerned, Cummins might as well be Evans, because Cormier has been preparing for a “monster” either way.

In this video, shot by National MMA Examiner Ryan McKinnell from the UFC 170 open workouts inside the Mandalay Bay, hear Cormier chat about his upcoming fight with Cummins, his mindset heading into a fight with the massive underdog, and how he once would have considered Cummins a friend.

Obviously, things have changed.

The always-jovial Cormier also shares an entertaining story about how, when earlier last week after finding out his fight had been canceled, blew off his fight-diet and made a run for Popeye’s chicken to wallow in his disappointment.

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Ryan McKinnell has been covering MMA for the past six years; covering the early IFL, Elite XC, Strikeforce, and UFC, Ryan has had the chance to interview and converse with champions and challengers, alike. His work has been featured in FIGHT! Magazine, The Atlantic, MMAweekly.com and other reputable outlets. As he states, his objective is, "to leave the sport better than I found it, and to tell the tales of men far more athletic than I."